Wood, Animal Hide, Cowrie Shells, Beads

Drum - Single Head

Baule Mouse Divination Drum

Ivory Coast
Baule

Wood, Animal Hide, Cowrie Shells, Beads
ca. Mid-20th century

Drum only: Height: 9" ; Diameter 6 3/4"
Baule Mouse Divination Container/Drum -Provenance: Henry Lovelace Collection.

This Baule Mouse Divination Drum comes from the Henry Lovelace Collection. The Baule of Ivory Coast use the Gbekre, aka mouse oracle or mouse box, among other methodologies. Oral traditions among the people of the Baule region, including the Yaure and Guro, who may have initiated the practice of mouse divination, indicate that a long time ago mice could speak. As they commonly live in the ground in the forest surrounding the village mice are in close contact with the asye usu, the forest spirits, which see and know all and which, in turn, live closely to the ancestors. Divination experts, those with specialization in all spiritual matters, brought mice into the village to live in captivity. In many African societies animals are believed to have innate insight into the human experience. The Baule people believe that a mouse can be used as a messenger of God.

Owner:
Catalog#: AF-MBST-15-97